These Are The Best Reasonably Priced AWD Sedans
Choosing a sensible sedan shouldn’t constitute sacrificing all-weather capability. A preference for an affordable car with four doors and a proper trunk doesn’t exclude the need for maximum traction.
Thankfully, automobile manufacturers have been listening. There are plenty of mainstream sedans now available with all-wheel drive, and they’re not just Subarus. More and more manufacturers have begun equipping sedans with AWD, unfortunately, if you're a fan of domestic automakers you're out of luck as there isn't a single vehicle from Ford, General Motors, or Dodge/Chrysler available on this list
After scouring the build sheets and specification tables, we present to you the best AWD sedans on a budget.
For 2025 the Toyota Camry had migrated to an exclusively hybrid powertrain, with AWD available for $1,525, even in the base LE trim level. An all-wheel-drive Camry now starts at $31,060 USD. Toyota offers AWD on any of the Camry’s trim levels—LE, SE, XLE, and XSE.
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The Nissan Altima is equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 188 horsepower, the Altima offers a smooth and fuel-efficient drive. AWD is available for $1,500 on SV trim levels and above. In the United States, the SV AWD begins at a price of $30,070 USD. In total, Nissan offers all-wheel drive on three trim levels of the Altima.
The Kia K5 offers all-wheel drive on just one trim level, the GT-Line AWD. It includes a 2.5-liter engine making 191 hp paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The GT-Line starts at a price of $29,590 USD, putting it right in line with higher trim AWD versions of the Toyota Camry and Nissan Altima.
The Subaru Legacy is the ubiquitous all-wheel mid-size sedan. Having been on sale since 1989, the Legacy has always been available with AWD, and has only come that way for the past two decades. It’s the lowest-priced mid-size sedan to offer all-wheel drive, starting at a price of $24,895 USD.
The Subie is the only car in its class to have all-wheel drive as standard, paired with an 182 hp four-cylinder engine. If that’s not enough, unlike its competitors, the Legacy offers AWD with an upgraded engine, a 260 hp turbocharged unit in Legacy XT. If you want one, move fast, as Subaru announced it will be killing off the Legacy after the 2025 model year.
For 2024 the largest Hyundai sedan gets a sleek makeover, ditches the 1.6L, and gains available AWD as a $1,500 option starting with the SEL trim. That better aligns the Korean model with the rest of the segment.
Chock-full of tech and featuring a spacious cabin, the Sonata remains one of the most affordable options on this list, clocking in at $30,400 for an SEL model equipped with AWD.
If a relatively affordable all-wheel drive compact performance sedan is what is required, there’s the Subaru WRX. The WRX continues the rally-bred car’s tradition with a 2.4-liter turbocharged flat-four engine making 271 hp. It continues to be offered with either a six-speed manual transmission or a continuously variable transmission, both of which power all four wheels. Pricing for the Subaru WRX performance sedan starts at $32,735 USD
All-wheel drive is now available on the latest Mazda3. The Mazda3 does not offer all-wheel drive with the base engine or entry-level trim package. AWD is standard with the 191 hp, 2.5-liter base engine if you choose the 2.5 S Carbon Edition at a starting price of $29,410 USD.
There's also an available 250 hp turbocharged engine paired with all-wheel drive, but that will cost you a few more grand at $32,100 to start. Sadly though, no manual transmission is available on any AWD Mazda3.
A different take on all-wheel drive compact sedans is the Toyota Corolla Hybrid AWD. As the name suggests, the Corolla is powered by a fuel-sipping 134 hp hybrid system powering the front wheels. The all-wheel drive part comes from Toyota's e-AWD—it utilizes a 30 kW electric motor on the rear wheels to help provide additional grip when the front wheels slip at low speeds. For 2025 AWD is a $1,400 option.
Although it is not a true AWD setup, it still offers the same benefits when driving in slippery conditions around town. It’s also the most fuel-efficient all-wheel drive sedan currently on sale. Pricing for the Corolla Hybrid AWD starts at $23,500 USD.
It's true: Toyota offers no fewer than four different sedans with AWD. That includes the stylish fifth-generation Prius, which debuted in 2023. The latest Prius sacrifices a wee bit of cabin and cargo space for a vastly improved look, not to mention genuinely enjoyable driving dynamics.
The front-drive model pairs a 2.0-liter gas engine with a hybrid setup for 194 hp; the AWD model slings an electric motor on the rear axle, for a combined 196 hp. There's also the Prius Prime plug-in hybrid, though that model sticks to front-drive only. Pricing starts from $27,950 USD
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VW Arteon
Are there any Crossover/SUV models with a manual transmission?